Cleaning device for regenerators



May 31, 1938.

l? f e? y@ fnl/f H. c. BAUGHMAN 2,119,31

CLEANING DEVICE FOB. REGENERATORS F'iled April 15, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet lH. C. BAUGHMAN CLEANING DEVICE FOR REGENERATORS May 31, 1938.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1937 Hwy dwm H. C. BAUGHMAN CLEANINGDEVICE FOR REGENERATORS May 31, l1938.

Filed April 15, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I I l IIIIMUHUIIIIIIMHVIHIPatented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,119,310 l CLEANINGDEVICE Fon REGENERATORS Application April 15, 1937, Serial No. 137,034

1 7 Claims.

My invention relates to metallurgical furnaces and more particularly toimprovements in the arrangement and construction ofthe regenerativechambers, whereby means are provided for i5 cleaning the uptake uesbetween the checkers of two pass regenerators. v

Heretofore it has been almost' the universal practice in open-hearthfurnaces to use regenerators at opposite ends of the furnace for heatingboth the gas and the air before it passes over the hearth of thefurnace, but the present day practice leans towards the use of fuels notrequiring preheating such as oil, tar, pulverized coal or the like whichenters the hearth chamber direct and the air only is heated. One of thedifliculties with such fuels, however, is that they introduce aconsiderable quantity of dust or like foreign substances into thefurnace which is carried by the off gases of combustion through thecheckerconstruction and flues of the regenerators which soon becomeclogged by this foreign substance carried in suspension by the exhaustgases from the furnace. This` is also true when producer gas is used forthis purpose and both the air and gas are heated before passing over thehearth of the furnace.

In order to prevent as much as possible ue dust and other foreignmaterial from clogging up the regenerator chambers, slag pockets havebeen usually constructed at the required points at the end of thefurnace and beneath the checker construction and ue passages which haveto be cleaned out as required manually through suitable doors which is adifficult oper'- ation on account of the excessive heat and during thisoperation which requires several hours Work the operation of the furnaceis suspended. This operation of cleaning out the slag pockets andcheckers sometimes has to be done during a furnace heat, in which casethe bath is liable to freeze.

In open-hearth furnaces of Y this type air and gas or other gaseous orvaporizable combustibles are received at one end of the furnace anddirected over the hearth or bath and then the off gases discharged fromthe other end of the furnace. Regenerators at the opposite ends of thefurnace are adapted to heat the incoming air and gases or in case aburner is used at each end of the furnace the incoming air only isheated before it enters the furnace, while the off gases from thefurnace heat the regenerators at the opposite end of the furnace, the owbeing F1155 reversed as the incoming air, or air and gas cool theregenerators to a certain temperature at that end of the furnace. f

For illustration I have shown my device as adapted for cleaning theuptake flues between the checkers of a pair of two pass regenerators 5for heating the air and gas before it enters the hearth chamber of thefurnace, but it may be adapted for use in other flue passages of thefurnace or other types of regenerators equally as well.

One of the objects of my invention relates to the manner of constructingthe lower portions of the uptake nues between a two pass regenerator orthe like.

Another object of my invention relates to the l5 means for directing theaccumulations of flue dust or other foreign matter toward the openingsof a suitable` system of piping through which it may be readily removed.

A further object of my invention relates to the 20 manner of ejectingthe ue dust or the like material from the regenerator.

Another advantage of my device is that the regular operation of thiscleaning system may be depended upon to prolong the utility of the 25double pass regenerator for practically the entire life of the furnaceas demonstrated by actual eX- periments.

Another object of my invention relates to the manner of arranging doorsin the checker cham- ,30 ber roof directly above each of the ejectoroutlets to permit working of the dirt or flue dust by inserting a bar`or weight when necessary.

Still another advantage of my invention relates to the manner ofcleaning the uptake flues be- :35 tween a two pass regenerator or thelike during the operation of the furnace.

Having thus given a general description of the objects of my invention,I will now in order to make the same more clear, refer to the annexed#40 three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like characters of reference indicate like parts. 4`

Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section through a two passregenerator for an openhearth furnace or the like taken on the line I lof Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.. 50 Fig. V3 is a detail of an enlarged horizontal` section through aportion of the bottom of the regenerator taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.4.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig.3.

Fig. G is a front elevation of the blow pipe jet.

Fig. 'l is a side elevation of a two pass regenerator showingdiagrammatically the arrangement and manner of connecting up the pipingfor one of the cleaning devices, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail viewof a portion of the pipe connections illustrating more clearly themanner of controlling and operating the flow of compressed air to theblow pipe jets and the siphon.

Referring now to the characters of reference on the drawings the numerali, indicates a pair of two pass regenerators for a metallurgical furnaceas a whole comprising an air regenerator 2 and a gas regenerator 3 eachhaving two passes Li and 5,

The passes fi are illustrated as having a greater area and the checkersand the ducts are of larger size than the checkers and ducts in passes 5of the regenerators.

The air and gas regenerators are divided by means of a longitudinal wallEl and each pass of the regencrators is divided longitudinally by meansof partition walls and spaced transverse walls 8 and S adapted to formthe uptake ilues IU between the two passes of each of the regenerators.f

The checkers are supported on the usual arches Ii and have fines beneaththem as at I2 and I3. The nues I2 extend from the front wall I4 of theregenerators to the transverse wall 9, while the iiues I3 extend fromthe transverse wall 9 to the nues I5 and IE- leading to the usual stackand source of supply of gas and air.

The rear end of each of the flues I2 beneath the uptakes Iii is formedhopper shaped by means of laterally and inwardly inclined faces oftapered side blocks I'I having sloping tops I8 and an inwardly inclinedface of a central wedge block I9. Between the forwardly extending endsof the tapered side blocks I1 and directly in front of each centralwedge block I9 is a funnel shaped mouth 2Q of a pipe connection 2ithrough which the flue dust and dirt or other foreign material may besiphoned or drawn ofi.

Extending through the floor of each flue I2 in front of each funnel 2Sis aAblow pipe jet 22 for the purpose of blowing any accumulation of thedust into a position in the hopper where it will be sucked out throughthe pipes 2l by the siphon.

In the roof of the regenerator directly above Y each funnel shaped mouth29 is a door 23 adapted frs to permit the insertion of a bar or similartool to work the dirt or flue dust in the funnel or hopper.

In operation assuming that the flow of off gases of combustion from anopen-hearth furnace is passing through the regenerators to the stack, itrst ows into a slag pocket chamber 2 at the end of the furnace hearth,thence through ka universal passage 25 to the ducts 255, then verticallydown through the checkers of pass 4 into the flue I2 and then verticallythrough the uptakes Iii into ducts 2l at the top of the checkers in pass5 from which point they pass down through the checkers into fiues I3 andinto the iiues I5 and It which extend to a stack, or stack and gassupply (not shown). As the cold incoming air and gas passing through theregenerators at the opposite end of the furnace soon cools the checkerwork the flow will have to be reversed every few minutes. The o gases ofcombustion from the hearth of the furnace carry with them considerabledust, fused slag, soot and the like so that in passing through thc`regenerators the checkers and uptakes between the two passes soon becomeclogged. This is particularly the case in the lower ends of the uptakesI between the two passes which soon bccome filled up to such an extentthat the flow is cut off between the two passes. With the use of mydevice which may be operated when desired without interrupting theoperation of furnace the uptake lues between the two passes are alwayskept free from obstruction and the regular operation of the cleaningsystem may be de pended upon to prolong the utility of the double passcheckers for the entire run of the furnace.

In Figs. '7 and 8 I have illustrated the manner of controlling the flowof compressed air to the blow pipe jets 22 and of siphoning out theinatcrial through pipes 2i at one side of a two pass regenerator. Itwill be understood that the other side of the regenerator will have asimiiar arrangement and will be operated in a like manner.

In actual practice I have found it is desirable to clean the uptakeflues about once a week which may vary somewhat depending on the kind offuel used in the furnace.

The manner of operating the cleaning device for the ues in theregenerators is as follows: It is the usual practice to have an air linelocated adjacent to the ends of the regenerators for openhearth furnacesof this type. A pipe 28 is connected to this air line which extends toand is coupled as at 2Q to the outer ends of the pipes for the blow pipejets 22. These blow pipe jets are individually controlled by means ofvalves Sil. A' pipe BI provided with a valve extends from one of thecouplings 29 to a flexible connection 33 which is coupled as at 34 to asiphon 35 adapted to be secured in turn to the outer threaded ends ofthe pipes 2l by means of a coupling 3S, and controlled by means of avalve 3l'. When the device ris not in operation the valves 3@ and 32 areclosed. The uptake lil at the end of each of the flues I2 is cleanedindividually. In doing this the operator first opens one of the valves39 to allow the compressed air to flow into the pipe which extends to ablow pipe jet 22 for the purpose of blowing any accumulation of the fluedust or like material into position in the hopper where it will be moreeasily siphoned out. Valve 3i! is then closed. The siphon 35 is thencoupled to the threaded outer end of the pipe 2l which has its oppositeend extending to the lower end of the uptake Iii at the end of the fluei2 in which the blow pipe jet 22 has just blown lthe flue dust orforeign material into the hopper. Valves 32 Aand 3l are then opened andthe aspirating effect of the siphon will draw olf the said flue dust orforeign material accumulated in the hopper at the lower end of theuptake and discharge the same from the open end of the siphon.

I have found that the siphon is more effective if the valve 31 is openedand closed several times in quick succession during the siphoningoperation. After this siphoning operation, the valves 32 and l areclosed and the siphon uncoupled and then applied to the threaded end ofanother pipe ZI. The operation above described will be repeated on eachflue I2 and the lower end of the uptake Iii until all of the uptakes inthe regenerator have been cleaned.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown and described a singlepipe 28 as extending to the air line for supplying air pressure for theblow pipe jetsr22 and the siphon 35. I may however4 in some cases desireto use an individual andere pipe connection from theair line `for1 the-`blow pipe jets and the siphon, and although -I have shown the Siphonas discharging the material vertically it can be coupled and arranged todis-- charge material horizontally `or at any other angle desiredequally as well.

Although I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail,I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details `shown anddescribed, but may use such substitutions, modifications crequivalentsthereof as are embraced within the scope of my invention, oras pointed out in the claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for discharging ue dust or like material from a chambercomprising a pipe having an open end extending into the chamber fordischarging the flue dust or like material from the chamber, and a jetfor advancing the material to be discharged to the open end'of the pipein the chamber. Q a a 2. In a device for discharging flue dust crithelike from regenerators comprising a pipehaving an open end extendinginto the regenerator having suction means for discharging the flue dustor like material therefrom, and means for blov ing the material towardsthe open end of the plpe.

3. In a device for discharging flue dust or the like material fromregenerators, a regenerator, a ilue in the lower portion of theregenerator, a pipe having an open end extending into the ilue adaptedto eject the material to be discharged by suction, and a jet adapted toadvance the 'material to the open end of the pipe in the flue.

fl. In a device for discharging flue dust or like material from theuptake of a regenerator, an uptake in the regenerator, a hopper shapedrecess at the lower end of the uptake, a pipe having an open endextending into the hopper shaped recess adapted to pneumaticallydischarge the material in the hopper shaped recess, and means -foradvancing the ilue dust or like material to the open end oi the pipe inthe hopper shaped recess.

5. In a device for discharging ilue dust or like material from theuptake of a two pass regenerator, an uptake between the two passes ofthe regenerator, a pipe having an open end extending into the lower endof the uptake adapted to pneumatically discharge the ilue dust or thelike material from the lower end of uptake, and a jet adapted to advancethe material to be discharged to the open end of the pipe at the lowerend of the uptake.

6. In a device for discharging flue dust or the like material from theuptake of a two pass regenerator, an uptake between the two passes ofthe regenerator, a hopper shaped recess at the lower end of the uptake,a pipe having a funnel shaped mouth extending into the hopper shapedrecess at the lower end of the uptake adapted to discharge the ilue dustor like material from the regenerator, and a jet extending into theregenerator adjacent to the hopper shaped recess adapted to blow theilue dust or like material toward the funnel shaped mouth of the pipe.

7. In a device for discharging flue dust or the like material from theuptakes of two pass regenerators, a pair of two pass regenerators spacedlongitudinally extending partition walls in the two passes oftheregenerators, spaced transverse walls between the two passes of theregenerators connecting the longitudinally extending partition wallsadapted to form the uptakes between the two passes of the regenerators,a .hopper shaped recess formed at the lower end of each uptake, a pipehaving an open end extending into each hopper shaped recess at the lowerend of each uptake adapted to discharge the ilue dust or like materialfrom the regenerators, and a jet in the regenerators adjacent to eachhopper shaped recess adapted to blow the flue dust or like materialtoward the open end of each pipe.

8. In-a device for discharging ilue dust or like material from theuptake of a two pass regenerator, a two pass regenerator, spacedlongitudinally extending walls in the two passes oi the regenerator,spaced transversely extending walls between the two passes of theregeneratcr con-- necting the longitudinally extending walls adapted.toform an uptake between the two passes,` a flue beneath 'one pass ofthe regenerator extending to the uptake, tapered side blocks havinglaterally and inwardly inclined faces and a cen-- tral wedge blockhaving an inwardly inclined Vface adapted to form a hoppershaped recessat the end of the flue beneath the uptake, a pipe having an open endextending into the hopper shaped recess at the lower end of the uptakeadapted to discharge flue dust or like material therefrom, and a jet inthe flue adjacent to the hopper shaped recess adapted to blow the iiuedust or like material toward the open end of each pipe.

9. In a device for discharging flue dust or like material from theuptakes of a two pass regenerator, a two pass regenerator, spacedlongitudinally extending partition walls in the two passes of theregenerator, spaced transversely extending walls between the two passesof the regenerator connecting the longitudinally extending walls adaptedto form a plurality of uptakes between the two passes, a plurality offlues beneath one pass each extending to an uptake, a pairof taperedside blocks having laterally and inwardly inclined faces and a centralWedge block having an inwardly inclined face adapted to form a hoppershaped recess at the end of each ue beneath each uptake, a pipe havingan open end extending into each hopper shaped recess at the lower end ofeach uptake adapted to discharge the flue dust or the like materialtherefrom, and a jet extending into each flue adjacent to each hoppershaped recess adapted to blow the flue dust or like material toward theopen end of each pipe.

10. In a device for discharging ilue dust or the like material from theuptake of a two pass regenerator. a two pass regenerator, a ue under oneof the regenerators extending to the uptake, a hopper shaped recess atthe end of the flue beneath the uptake, a pipe having a funnel shapedopen end extending into the hopper shaped recess adapted to dischargethe flue dust or the like material from the regenerator, a blow pipehaving an elongated jet opening extending into the nue adjacent to thehopper shaped recess adapted to blow the flue dust or like materialtoward the funnel shaped open end of the discharge pipe, and a door inthe roof of the regenerator above the uptake.

11. In a device for discharging ue dust or the like material fromregenerators, a regenerator, a pipe having an open end extending intothe regenerator, and means connected to the pipe for withdrawing theflue dust or like material from the regenerator.

12. In a device for discharging flue dust or like material fromregenerators, a regenerator, a flue in the lower portion of theregenerator, a pipe having an open end extending into the flue, andmeans connected to the pipe for withdrawing the ilue dust or likematerial from the regenerator.

13. In a device for discharging flue dust or like material from theuptake of a regenerator, an uptake in the regenerator, a pipe having anopen end extending into the lower end of the uptake, and means connectedto the pipe for withdrawing the flue dust or like material from theuptake.

14. In a device for discharging flue dust or like material from theuptake of regenerators, an uptake in the regenerator, a hopper shapedrecess at the lower end of the uptake, a pipe having an open endextending into the hopper shaped recess, and means connected to the pipefor withdrawing the flue dust or like material from the hopper shapedrecess.

15. In a device for discharging flue dust or like material fromregenerators, a regenerator, a nue in the lower portion of theregenerator, an uptake at one end of the flue, a hopper shaped recess atthe lower end of the uptake, a pipe having an open end extending intothe hopper shaped recess, and means connected to the pipe forwithdrawing the flue dust or like material from the hopper shapedrecess.

16. In a device for discharging flue dust or the like material from theuptake of a two pass regenerator, a two pass regenerator, an uptakebetween the two passes of the regenerator, a hopper shaped recess at thelower end of the uptake, a pipe having a funnel shaped mouth extendinginto the hopper shaped recess at the lower end of the uptake, and meansconnected to the pipe for withdrawing the ilue dust or the like materialfrom the hopper shaped recess.

17. In a device for discharging flue dust or like material from theuptakes of a two pass regenerator, a two pass regenerator, spacedlongitudinally extending walls in the two passes of the regenerator,spaced transversely extending walls between the two passes of theregenerator connecting the longitudinally extending walls adapted toform uptakes between the two passes, ilues beneath one pass of theregenerator extending to the uptakes, a hopper shaped recess formed atthe lower end of each uptake, a pipe having an open end extending intoeach hopper shaped recess at the lower end of each uptake, and means forwithdrawing the flue dust or like material from each hopper shapedrecess.

HARRY C. BAUGHMAN.

